A win in the final race for the appropriately named Final Call II in Kip Regatta at the weekend clinched an overall first in the RC 35 division for John Minnis’s Archambault 35 from Royal Ulster and Royal North of Ireland Yacht Clubs on Belfast Lough. And they were the overall winners as well. Runner up in that class was the Clyde based Charlie Frize’s Corby 33 Banshee.

The fleets enjoyed sunshine and seven to 14-knot winds on the Saturday but damp mist with a slightly stronger breeze on Sunday.

The red hot ten boat RC35 division included several boats entered in the Bangor Town Regatta where Minnis will be striving to repeat the win in home waters. But before that event at the end of June, Final Call II makes the trip to the huge Wave Regatta at Howth early in that month, where it will be up against an impressive seventeen strong Class 2 fleet which also includes Peter Doig’s East Antrim based J92s.

Final Call II at Kip Regatta

Kip Regatta was the first big gathering in Scotland this year and with expert race management from Royal Western Yacht Club there were closely fought battles across the classes. It was part of Inverclyde’s Meliora Festival, which celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

With a top-class crew of nine which included Gareth Flanigan driving, Mike Gunning on main and Jeremy Tomalin and Jeff Flanagan trimming, as well as Philip Johnston, Richard Gunning,

Mike Ennis and Tom Finlay, Final Call 11 counted three firsts and discarded a seventh in Race 3 to finish just one point ahead of Banshee with Robin Young’s J109 Jings in third slot. Having been third overnight the two firsts on the second day settled the outcome.

“The competition in the fleet was great” said John Minnis, “and we thoroughly enjoyed the event. Now we look forward to the trip to Howth’s Wave Regatta in a couple of weeks”.